Stepladder



W. R. QUEHL juiy 8 STEPLADDEP.

, Filed Dec. 23 1922 INVENTOR ATTOR N EY weld,

2 She eLs-Sheet 1 WITNESSES July 8,, 4- 1,503,891

W. R. QUEHL STEPLADDER Filed Dec. 23. 1

1 MB Qww INVENTOR .A'ITORNEY 7 step: sections,

Patented July 8, 1924.

units STA? "res isomer rates-r QFFl-CE I AM 1a.- eunnn, or LonIs, MISSOURI; ohr anvn n. QUEI-IL ADMINISTRATRIX CPI-SAID? WILLIAM R. QUEI-IL, DECEASED.

STEPLA DER,

prove'lnents in folding step" ladders; which facilitate? aiding-' thereof, and also allow the ladder to be-materially reduced size, so=-that it will occupy but little space when noti-n use.{-

The nature and "advantages of the invention will? be -better=understeod when the following; detailed 1 description" is read in con- HeCtlOI1 -Wltl1 'l'/l16 accompanying drawings,

the invention residingin 'the combination,

construction and arrangement of parts as claimed; v

In the drawings formingpart of this application', like numerals of reference indicate similar-partsinthe several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of-a ladder in position for-use v Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof.

Figure 3-is a rear'ele'vation;

Figure lfis a side elevation of the ladder folded. I I

Figure 5 is asectional' view taken on the line 5 5" of-Figure 2. g

Figure 1 6 iis apersp'ective' of one of the elements: embodied in the? invention.

Figure 7 is-a'similar view of one'of the Referringto the'drawingsin detail, 10 indi cates the sides of the ladder w-hichare prop er lyspfaced apart,andconnected by the steps as shown. The sides have associated therewith supporting legs 11 whicli are pivotally associated with the sides at the upper ends thereof as at 12. The legs 11 are connected together by transversely disposed bracing elements, each of which includes pivotally con nected sections 12, and these bracing elements are connected together by a vertically disposed bar 14, so that said elements can be folded or extended in unison. The bar 14 has associated therewith a hand grip 15 for the purpose of manipulating the bar in a manner and for a purpose to be more fully described, and in connection with which. purpose, the bar 14: is provided with a pin 16, i

Application filed December 23,1922. Serial No. 608,695;

The-stepseach include two sections which are normally arranged in end to end relation, and the sections are pivota l'ly connected together, so that when the sections are broken at this point, they can be" arranged vertically and parallel in folded positions; Each section 17 and 17' is slotted midway its ends to' r'e'ceive the: extensions 18 formed by the slotsfor' a. fitting-engage 111611 3 With: each other, the construction being suclr that the steps can be broken to" be folded in the manner-stated, andat the same tinie afi'ord the desired strength and rigidity when extended for use. The outer end olireachsection is pivotallyassociated with the sides 1050f thie' ladder, and-each section isprovided with ahanger'ofithe con struction shown in Figures 6"and 7.-

Each hanger is designed to embrace one side 'of the ladder and being: substantially of U-shaped formation as'shown. The body of the hanger" is indicatedat 19, while the parallel portions are in d'icated at 20'and'21 respectively. The portion 20is provided withtfa slot 22'to loosely receive trunnion 23 which projects from one side of the adjacent step section-,while the portion '2l' is provided with an enlarged opening 24 to receive an elongatedlug 25 projecting fromfthe op"- positeisi'de of the adjacent step; section, and slightly toeone sideof' the lug 23: Thisco'n; structionzprovides for a; pivotal connection between the step. sections and thefsides 10 of the ladder. When the stepsare arranged for use, the lugs 25 are arranged horizontal} lyin the openings24 of their hangers,- when the stepsare? folded the Q lugs are' 'turn'ed within the opening 24 and are then arranged verticallyi' to assistiin holding the step see tions in parallelism when folded. Ina'd dition towthe pivotal movement provided for the steps, the construction allows the steps to slightly rock within the openings 24, so that when the steps are folded the sections will be brought to position to lie directly behind the sides 10. The steps are all connected by a vertically disposed bar 26 which is provided with an opening 27 to receive the pin 16 above referred to, when the legs 11 are swung into the direction of the side menibers 10. After the pin 16 has been positioned within the opening 27, the handle 15 associated with the bar 14 is taken hold of and the said bar 14 and bar 26 moved together in an llPWard direction,

thereby collapsing or folding all of the steps in unison. Manifestly as the steps are thus' foldech'the sides are brought into closely related positions and the ladder in its entirety materially reduced in size so as to occupy but a minimum of space when not in use. One leg 11 is providedwith an eye member 28 which accommodates a hook 29 carried by one of the sides 10, and

utilized to hold the ladder folded. Hinged brace members 26 are connected with the sides 10 and 11 to hold the parts against movement when the ladder is in operative position. 7

While it'is believed that from the foregoing description, the nature and advantages 7 of the invention will be readily apparent, I desire to have it understood thatI do not the other section and each including a pair 'ofsections' hingedly connected together, longitudinally V shiftable bars connected with the steps and brace members at their hinged connections, one of'the bars being provided with an opening and a pin carried by the otherbar and adaptedto be received in the opening, and ahandle on one'of the bars I whereby to shift both bars longitudinally to breakthe hinged connection of the steps and brace members to collapse the ladder.

2. A ladder including a frame, a plurality of steps each provided with a hinged joint intermediate its ends, brackets carried by the frame each having an elongated opening at one side thereof, a trunnion carried by each end of each of the steps'and ournalled in the brackets, a laterally projecting rectangular extension extending from the opposite side of each end of eachof the steps and accommodated in the respectiveelongated opening.

3. A step ladder including sides spaced apart, steps, each including two pivotally connected sections normally arranged in end to end relation and pivotally connected together, a pivotal connection between each section and the adjacent side members whereby said sections can be folded in parallelism and the side members folded closely together, a bar connecting all of said steps and movable to simultaneously fold the lad der, supporting legs pivoted to the side members, sectional bracing elements connecting said legs, a bar connecting said bracing elements and adapted to be arranged parallel with and connected to the first mentioned bar, and utilized to adjust the ladder for the purpose specified.

4. A step ladder including spaced side members, steps, each including two sections normally arranged in end to end relation and pivotally connected together, a pin projecting from one side of each section, a lug projecting from the other side of each section, hangers for each step, said hangers being designed to embrace the side members of the ladder and having openings for receiving the respective pin and lug, whereby said stepscan be folded in parallelism between said side members, a bar connecting all of the steps, supporting legs, bracing ele ments connecting the legs, a bar connecting said bracing elements, and means for connecting the bars for simultaneous adjustment as and for the purpose specified.

5. A step ladder including spaced side members, steps, each including pivotally connected sections adapted to be folded in parallelism between the side members,

hangers for said steps, a pin projecting from i one side of each section, a lug projecting from the other side of the section, and to one side of said pin, each hanger'being substatially U-shaped for straddling the adjacent side member of the ladder, said hangers each having spaced openings pivotally receiving the adjacent pin and lug, a bar connecting all of the steps, for folding said steps in unison, and supporting legs for said side members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

VVILLIAQM R. QUEHL. 

